It’s been another busy working week, so this newsletter will be shorter than usual. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much significant news in the VR ecosystem this week. But I do have two exciting updates to share:
- Firstly, in a few days, I will be able to reveal what I’ve been working on for a while now!
- Secondly, I’m introducing a new section of the newsletter dedicated to sponsored content. While I enjoy featuring “friends and partners” for free, I’m now offering structured collaborations in this sponsored section. Infomediji is the first sponsor, and I’m grateful for their support!
Top News of the Week
Pico is NOT shutting down
This week, there was some drama surrounding Pico. A Chinese website reported that Bytedance, frustrated with the slow growth of the VR ecosystem, was planning to cut off its VR hardware division, including Pico. Western social VR accounts, like Cix Liv’s on Twitter, shared this news.
However, I found the news suspect. Pico employees were attending AWE, and leaks had already shown the upcoming Pico 5. Within hours, Bytedance issued a press release stating that the rumors were false, confirming that Pico will continue its business. There is now speculation that Pico will focus more on mixed reality (MR) to compete with Apple’s Vision Pro.
In other news:
- Virtuix Omni One, the VR treadmill, is available for preorders at $2,595.
- Meta is working on decoding images from brain activity through AI.
- Monster Hunter, a collaboration between Niantic and Capcom, reached 10 million downloads in its first month.
Other Relevant News
Quest 3 and the new Glassholes
People continue to use Quest 3 in passthrough mode for various activities. The Verge has even coined the term “new Glassholes” for these users. While this may seem like a new trend, similar actions have been done before with older VR devices.
Monster Hunter hits 10M downloads in a month
Niantic’s Monster Hunter game, created in collaboration with Capcom, surpassed 10 million downloads in just one month after its launch. This success suggests the game has potential for widespread adoption and longevity.
News Worth a Mention
Xpanceo raises $40M to develop smart contact lenses
Xpanceo, a startup, has secured $40 million in funding to develop its own smart contact lens technology. This is an exciting development for fans of smart contact lenses and represents a significant step in the field.
Virtuix Omni One is now available for preorders
Virtuix’s VR treadmill, the Omni One, is now available for preorders at a price of $2,595. Shipping is expected to begin in Q2 2024.
Meta is working on a system to decode the images in your brain
Meta is conducting research on using AI to decode brain activity and reconstruct the images a user is seeing. While it’s still in the early stages, this project could have implications for mind-reading technology.
Learn how to design a Mixed Reality application
Road To VR has published a guest post detailing the design process for the mixed-reality game Laser Dance. The post provides insights into room configurations and user accessibility considerations.
The Upload Winter Showcase is back!
Upload VR is hosting the Winter Showcase on December 6, 2023, in partnership with IGN. They are looking for interesting games to feature, so creators are encouraged to reach out.
Ubisoft gives more details about Assassin’s Creed VR
Ubisoft released a new gameplay trailer for Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR and shared insights into the creators’ decision-making process, including why they chose Ezio, Connor, and Kassandra as the featured assassins.
VR games are getting spooky
Several VR games are featuring special Halloween modes, including Budget Cuts and Richie’s Plank Experience.
Some news on content
- Tea is Served is an interesting short comedy VR horror.
- Pavlov Shack will finally have a full store release on Quest on November 14.
- Escape from Galaxen, a game paying homage to classic ’80s space shooters, has been released on App Lab for $6.
- Survivorman VR: The Descent, a survival simulation experience featuring Les Stroud, has been released on App Lab.
- VR drumming game Paradiddle is coming to Quest this year.
- Roguelite adventure Ironstrike is slated to come to Meta Quest on November 16 for $20.
Some reviews on content
- Tin Hearts VR offers an enjoyable gaming experience for fans of “Lemmings” gameplay.
- Genotype is a solid sci-fi adventure, featuring interesting biogloves that generate creatures as weapons. However, there are some issues with difficulty and replay value.
- Dungeons of Eternity, an essential VR fantasy dungeon crawler with hack-and-slash combat, has received positive reviews.
Other News
Some other news highlights include:
- The demand for Quest 3 512GB units is higher than expected.
- Quest 3 has a microphone popping problem that needs to be addressed.
- The Quest 3 Charging Dock is considered a cool accessory, but it’s also expensive.
- VR headsets have amazed people in rural areas of India.
- The XR Interaction Toolkit has been made compatible with WebXR.
News from Partners (and Friends)
Check out the Falling Down XR indie game, which offers thrilling jumps, maze exploration, and intense shootouts with monsters. They promise a captivating and emotional VR experience.
CPR Simulator, a VR application that teaches CPR, has reached version 2.0 and is currently available for free until October 31, 2023. It’s a great opportunity to learn a life-saving skill.
Infomediji is hiring for positions such as Product Manager, Senior Unity Developer, and Backend PHP Developer. Join their team and contribute to the VR industry!
Some XR Fun
Get a laugh with this funny link about an affordable Vision Pro.
Read about the obsession with mixing mixed reality with toilets in this funny link.
Donate for Good
This week, instead of asking for donations for the blog, I’d like to redirect your support towards the Red Cross in Ukraine. They are handling the humanitarian situation caused by the war. Your contribution can make a difference in the lives of those affected.
Thank you to all the generous Patreon donors who continue to support me:
- Alex Gonzalez VR
- DeoVR
- GenVR
- Eduardo Siman
- Jonn Fredericks
- Jean-Marc Duyckaerts
- Reynaldo T Zabala
- Richard Penny
- Terry xR. Schussler
- Ilias Kapouranis
- Paolo Leoncini
- Immersive.international
- Nikk Mitchell and the FXG team
- Jake Rubin
- Alexis Huille
- Raghu Bathina
- Chris Koomen
- Cognitive3D
- Wisear (Yacine Achiakh)
- Masterpiece X
- Jennifer Granger
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- Steve Biggs
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- Jan Schroeder
- Kai Curtis
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- Andrew Deutsch
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- Marco “BeyondTheCastle” Arena
- Eloi Gerard
- Adam Boyd
- Jeremy Dalton
- Joel Ward
- Alex P
- Lynn Eades
- Donald P
- Casie Lane
- Catherine Henry
- Qcreator
- Ristband (Anne McKinnon & Roman Rappak)
- Stephen Robnett
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- Caroline
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If you’d like to support the Red Cross in Ukraine, please use the link below:
Support The Red Cross in Ukraine
Thank you!
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